Have you ever felt like the pressure to look a certain way is pushing you to extremes—leaving you more anxious, depleted, and unsafe in your own body? 

And what if most of that pressure is actually coming from within?

The truth is:

The harder you push, the harder it gets. 

Take it from Dr. Michelle Shapiro, a renowned anxiety expert and dietitian whose incredible health transformation started with drastic weight loss that ultimately spiraled into severe health issues like hypothyroidism, panic attacks, and nutrient deficiencies.

In today’s podcast, Michelle gets real about the right and wrong ways to lose weight.

She reveals WHY her body rebelled against the pressure to change—and how she ultimately found healing  through targeted nutrition, rebuilding her stress response, and learning to quiet the internal voices fueling her anxiety.

Together, we dig into the often-overlooked internal battles that keep us stuck in hypervigilance and self-doubt. 

And why it’s SO crucial to listen to these signals.

Tune in to discover practical tools for rebalancing your body, setting boundaries, and learning how to truly nurture yourself in moments of chaos. 

IN THIS EPISODE

How drastic weight loss can backfire, causing nutrient deficiencies, hormone imbalances, and panic attacks

Why many women feel trapped in a constant state of hypervigilance, always waiting for the next crisis to hit

How to identify and address the internal voices that fuel anxiety, using strategies from internal family systems therapy

Practical strategies for resetting your body’s stress response, so you no longer feel like you’re stuck in fight-or-flight mode

Why setting clear boundaries and reclaiming your time and energy are crucial for managing anxiety

How to stop chasing symptoms and start healing the root causes of panic attacks and chronic stress

The importance of working with practitioners who help you feel seen, heard, and safe

Visit podcast page here: https://drmariza.com/episode602

QUOTES

"Weight loss is often seen as the ultimate goal for health, but if it’s done wrong, it can wreak havoc on your body—leading to hormone imbalances, panic attacks, and more."

"Feeling like your body is in constant overdrive, like you’re stuck in fight-or-flight, is your body’s way of telling you it doesn’t feel safe."

"Panic attacks aren’t just in your head. They’re your body’s alarm system, and unless you address the root causes—like nutrient depletion or chronic stress—they’ll keep coming."

"Setting boundaries and reclaiming your energy is the ultimate act of self-care. You can’t be everything to everyone without losing yourself."

RESOURCES MENTIONED

Connect with Michelle Shapiro

The Highly Sensitive Body Hub – a resource for those struggling with chronic health issues like histamine intolerance, POTS, and hypermobility

LAST CHANCE! Save your FREE seat for my upcoming Thriving in Perimenopause & Menopause Summit

Go to zoe.com and use code “ENERGIZE10” for 10% off of your Zoe membership

RELATED EPISODES 

598: Break the Cycle of Burnout, Anxiety, and Fear by Tapping into Heart Coherence with Kimberly Snyder

#563: How to Use Breathwork Daily to Ease Stress, Anxiety and Trauma with Samantha Skelly

#581: Five of the Worst Types of Food for Metabolic Health, Insulin Sensitivity, and Stubborn Visceral Belly Fat with Dr. Mariza

#490: Why We Crave the Foods We Crave and What We Can Finally Do About It with Dr. Amy Shah